“Something that cuts across them like a bar of light . . . patiently illumines all their problems, and at another place shoots over or through them as if they did not exist. We shall give that bar of light two names, fantasy and prophecy.” —E. M. Forster, Aspects of the Novel Six compelling tales intertwined with fantasy spotlight the profound humanism that E. M. Forster developed in his later novels. These early writings provide readers with a thought-provoking exploration of the human spirit, allowing for the possibility of a life-altering epiphany that frequently conflicts with conventional wisdom. From the prescient science fiction dystopia “The Machine Stops” to the title story, “The Eternal Moment,” each character is engulfed by a separation of reality from illusion and every experience prompts a transformation within. With opposing perspectives at play, they can never be the same. This extraordinary short story collection includes “Co-Ordination,” “The Eternal Moment,” “Mr. Andrews,” “The Machine Stops,” “The Point of It,” and “The Story of the Siren.”
